The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union is set to strike this Friday in opposition to plans by the government to outsource back office functions.

The governments planned contract with French based IT services provider Steria is expected to affect over 1,200 workers.

The planned contract is expected to be finalised by the November 1st, and comes as part of the Civil Service Reform Plan, which aims to deliver increased efficiency and savings.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We will not stand by and watch while yet another piece of the civil service is parcelled up and handed to a private company to make a profit.”

A Government spokesperson said that reform plans called for a more efficient, smaller civil service and that shared services and private sector involvement was key to delivering “more efficient and cost-effective services."

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